Closure for barrels



(No Model.)

R.G.GUBRAR D. CLOSURE FOR BARRELS.

No. 586,178. Patented July 13, 189 7.

NlTE terns ROBERT G. GUERARD, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

CLOSURE FOR BARRELS.

SIPEGTFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 586,178, dated July 13,1897. 7 Application filed March 28, 1896. Renewed December 19, 1896. Serial No. 616,334. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT G. GUERARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements in Closures for Barrels, Boxes, and the Like; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of closures for barrels and similar packing and storing vessels which comprise a top having a circular opening and notches or branches extending off from said opening at opposite points and also having inclined planes at its under side extending in opposite I directions from the notches or branches and a plug or :cover arranged in the opening of the top and adapted to rest upon the upper side of said top and having projections adapt: ed to engage the inclined planes at the under side of the top; and its novelty and advantages will be fully understood from the following description and claim when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a barrel embodying my invention, the closure-plug being illustrated as secured in its operative position. Fig. 2 is an end View of the barrel with the plug removed from the head. Fig. 3 is a section taken through the opening in the barrel-head and the plug with a portion of the plug in elevation. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the plug removed, and Fig. 5 is a perspective sectional view of a portion of the barrelhead.

In the said drawings similar letters designate corresponding parts in all of the several views, referring to which- A indicates a barrel or vessel, and B indicates the head or cover thereof, which may be formed of a suitable number of pieces socured in position in any suitable manner, as

by having their ends arranged in the chime grooves of the staves. This head B is provided with a circular opening a, having branches 1) at diametrically opposite points, and it is also provided at its under side (see Fig. 5) with two curvilinear inclined planes 0, which extend in opposite directions from the branches b of the opening a and are designed for a purpose presently described.

O indicates the closure-plug of the barrel. This plug 0 has the circular portion 01, de-

flange a, designed to bear upon thehead B,and the diametrically opposite-lugs f, which are arranged a distance below the flange c'eorresponding to or slightly greater than the thickness of the head 13 and are designed to be passed through the branches Z) of opening a when the plug is placed in the head, and are also adapted by hearing against the inclined planes 0 to draw the flange c tight against the head 13 when the plug is turned, so as to securely hold the plug in its closed position and effectually prevent any leakage of the contents of the barrel through the opening a. The plug 13 also has a diametrical groove g in its upper side to receive a securingstrap D, of wire or other suitable material. This securing-strap D is fastened at one end to the barrel-head B by a pin, screw, or other suitable fastening device h, and after being passed through the groove 9 and drawn taut it is fastened to the head B at an opposite point with respect to the fastener h by a fastener i, which may be aheaded pin, screw, or

invention, around which the wire strap is wound, as better illustrated in Fig. 3. When the strap D is fastened as shown and arranged in the groove 9 of the plug 0, it will be seen that the said plug will be securely held against turning no matter how roughly the barrel is handled, and consequently casual disconnection and displacement of the plug will be effectually prevented.

When it is desired to fill the barrel, the strap g may be readily disconnected from the fastening device iby unwinding it therefrom, and the plug C may then be turned to bring its lugs f in alinement with the branches D of opening a, and it may then be easily lifted out of the opening. After the barrel is filled the plug 0 is replaced in the opening a and turned, and the wire strap is again arranged in the groove 9 and fastened, when the plug will be securely held against turning and will consequently be fixed in position.

It will be readily observed that the removal signed to rest in the opening aof head B, the

other device suitable to the purpose of my and replacement of the plug C may be quickly and easily accomplished without the aid of a cooper or other skilled laborer and that consequently the contents of the barrel may be sampled when desired Without the objectionable necessity of boring a hole in the barrel or removing one of the pieces of the head. It will also be observed that my improved closure does not materially increase the original cost of the barrel, and as the opening and closing of the barrel may be accomplished without breakage a barrel embodying my invention will last much longer than the ordinary barrel.

Having described my invention, what I claim is In the barrel-closure described, the combination of the barrel-head having the circular opening a, provided with the diametrically opposite branches Z), and also having the inclined planes 0, at its under side, extending in opposite directions from the branches 1), a headed device vi, connected to the upper side of the head at the side of the opening a, the

turn-plug having the circular portion d,adapted to rest in the opening a, the flange 6, adapted to bear on the barrel-head and the disk arranged below and connected to the portion (Z, and having the diametrically opposite lugs f, adapted to be passed through the branches l), of opening a, and engage the inclined planes 0, of the head, and also having the diametrical' groove g, in its upper side, and the strap D, having one of its ends fastened to the head at an opposite point with respect to the device 1', and opening a, to' the head; the said strap being designed to be stretched taut in the groove g, of the plug and wrapped around the device 1', so as to hold the plug against turning and consequently against disconnection from the head, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT G. GUERARD. \Vitnesses:

S. ROBINSON, LoUIs HENRY. 

